Model With Down Syndrome Becomes Brand Ambassador for Benefit Cosmetics

Kate Grant, a model with Down Syndrome, has become the brand ambassador for Benefit cosmetics.

The 20-year-old from Crookstown Co Tyrone in Northern Ireland was crowned champion in the Teen Ultimate Beauty of the World pageant. She has also modeled on the catwalk at Belfast Fashion week and appeared on ITV show This Morning.

Now, she’s become a brand ambassador for Benefit cosmetics, “paving the way for others with disabilities,” her mother said.

She appeared on Benefit’s Instagram account modeling a new eye-liner. The post has received almost 5,000 likes.

“She is aware she is paving the way and she’s giving people a lot of hope as well of what people with disabilities can aspire to,” her mother Deirdre said. “You ask her where she wants to be and she says she wants to be a supermodel on famous catwalks in Milan and London.”

While becoming a supermodel might be far-fetched to some, Kate Grant seems to be well on her way.

Last August, Grant was crowned Ultimate Beauty of the World in the teen section of a pageant in Portadown, reports Belfast Live.

Grant’s mother told the publication, “It was the most wonderful experience because it was so much fun to do. The team were just lovely, they were a young team and were vibrant and just matched in with Kate’s personality.

“Kate was just oozing confidence, was sassy and had so much energy,” she said. “It was a photoshoot and video for social media, and she did it with such ease because she enjoyed it so much.”

“I was so pleased with it, we started at 9am and finished at 5pm and nothing was any bother to her. Normally she would say she wants a rest but not that day, she was in fine form,” Deirdre said.

In September, Benefit reached out to her via her social media channels after they saw some of her videos over the summer.

“They had seen Kate’s coverage on Facebook and Instagram and loved her level of energy, how she oozed confidence and her zest for life and felt that it matched their brand,” Deirdre said.

The following month, she and her mother flew out to London to film for the campaign.

“It was very exciting, even when we got over there I could not believe it was happening,” Deirdre said.

It seemed Kate fit right in, her mother said. “[S]he was able to relate to the girls of Benefit, it was not difficult for her to do, she just got on with them all so well, there was great banter.”

Kate even introduced them to the music of Nathan Carter and “had him blasting while she was doing her shoot,” Deirdre said.

Benefit Cosmetics

On how they discovered Kate Grant, a spokesperson for Benefit told Femail, “We discovered Kate by chance in the summer of 2018 when we saw a Facebook video about her journey to becoming a model. We fell instantly in love with her. Her amazing energy was so infectious and we were captivated by her incredible zest for life and determination. She embodied everything we stand for as a brand so we knew we had to find a way to work with her.”

The opportunity came along when Benefit was casting for their latest product launch, Roller Liner Eyeliner.

“We’re truly honored that Kate was able to join us, and we hope her involvement goes someway to showing that beauty and makeup shots can absolutely feature people from all walks of life. The beauty industry is changing and we love that people like Kate are leading the way.”

The role means that Kate will represent Benefit, a company which sells its make-up at over 2,000 shops in more than 30 countries globally, according to Metro.

“She has a great drive to be a supermodel,” Deirdre said. “I love her optimism and as her mum, I would always be there to support her in that optimism.”

Her mother spoke about what sets Kate apart.

“When you are young, you think the sky is the limit and with Kate, she does not have the understanding that we have that there are obstacles in the way.

“She does not allow obstacles to be in the way or her disability to stand in the way. She would say Down Syndrome does not define me—I am Kate.”